Carpet-stretcher



UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

WILLIAM IVHEELER, OF WEST IOULTNEY, VERMONT.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 25,858, dated October 18, 1859.

To all' whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WHEELER, of lVest Poultney, in the county of Rutland and State of Vermont, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Laying Down and Taking Up Carpets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

The complete apparatus necessary for the purpose, is in three parts, each performing its own function, viz., the spacer, the fastener, and the stretcher. Their construction and use are substantially as hereinafter specified. But only the stretcher is claimed in this specification, the other parts being represented and described to show their connection with the use of the stretcher.

Figure I, of the accompanying drawings, is a side view of the spacer; Fig. 2, a top view of the same, showing its position and application, in connection with the walls or wash-boards of a room; Fig. 3, a side view of the fastener; Fig. 4, a view thereof, in place, showing its relation to the walls, or wash-boards, and floor, of the room, and to the carpet; Fig. 5, a top view of the stretcher; Fig. 6, a side view of the same; Fig. 7, a rear view thereof.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The use of the spacer A, (Figs. l, and 2,) is to mark the positions for driving the fasteners into the floor, to gage the distances thereof from the walls or wash-boards, and to space them off at proper and uniform distances apart; and also to prick the floor at the proper inclinations, for driving the shanks of the fasteners therein. It is composed of a shank a, of convenient length, (say one foot, more or less,) a head-b, on the upper end, for holding in the hand, two spacing arms CZ, cl, at the lower end, two gage projections c, c, on opposite sides and ends respectively of the arms d, cl, and two points f, f, projecting downward respectively from the opposite or outer ends of the said arms; all substantially as represented in the drawings. The instrument is generally made of cast-iron, except the points f, f, which are made of pointed wire, and cast into the spacing arms d, d. In using it, it is placed in position as indicated in Fig. 2, the forward gage projection c, being placed against the wall, or wash-board, D, and the head b, being inclined outward from the wall sufficiently to give the proper inclination to the puncture, for directing the fastener as desired. The forward point f, is then forced down into the floor, a iittle way, by pressing on the head Z); the instrument is then turned forward, half a circle, on the forward point f, as the center, till the other gage projection c, strikes the wall or washboard, as indicated by red lines in the same figure. Another puncture is then made in the Hoor, as before. The operation is repeated, till all the sides of the floor have been spaced off and punctured.

The fastener B, (Figs. 3, and 4,) is made of a single piece of sheet-metal struck out with dies. Its form is substantially as represented, being triangular, or three-pointed;

one point g, serving as the shank to be driven into the floor, another point t', as the hook to receive the edge of the carpet, and the third point L, as a head, so shaped as to enable the fastener to be driven with facility into the floor. In cutting the fastener from the sheet of metal, two sets of dies are used, one to out off the fastener and the other to trim olf the waste metal for bringing the outer edges to the proper angle, which is necessarily more acute than the inner angle. The angle which the two principal points g, z', form with each other, is best when somewhat obtuse-about as represented in the drawings; and the shank point g, is generally driven into the iioor in a direction somewhat inclined toward the wall, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that the point z', may project upward just sufficiently to receive and securely hold the carpet without projecting unnecessarily above the same. The amount of projection of the point z', and hence the angle at which the shank g, is driven into the floor, will vary somewhat according to the thickness of the carpet, and are to be determined uniformly by the spacer, as above set forth. The upper edge of the head 7L, is made a little prominent above the upper line of the point z', in order that the fastener may be driven with facility and accuracy into the floor. The fastener is held by the point z', and the point g, inserted into the puncture previously made in the floor by the spacer. A tap or two of a small hammer on the head 71 will then drive the fastener into the floor till the head shall sink beneath the surface thereof. The carpet G, ts over the fastener as indicated in Fig. 4.

A fastener made as above set forth, of sheetiron cut out with dies, and tinned over, can not be surpassed in cheapness, strength, durability and efficiency. The flat form of the sheet-1netal, and the breadth of the points, where they unite, the strain of the carpet coming against the edge thereof, not only render the fastener very strong in propern tion to the amount of material in it, but prevent its ever turning around in the floor.

The stretcher C, (Figs. 5, 6, and 7,) is employed for the purpose of stretching the carpet, hooking it over the fasteners B, B, and for unhoolring it therefrom, whenever the carpet is to be taken up. It has a foot Z, generally made of sheet-steel; and to this is secured a cast-iron socket a, by means of of a flanch m, on said socket, and of rivets uniting'the flanch and foot, as represented. Into the socket is fitted a handle p, of suitable length to enable a person, while standing, to use the stretcher. The foot Z, is provided with a set of toe-points s, s, arranged on each side of a notch or open space r, in the middle of the front edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 5. These points are turned downward somewhat from the plane of the foot, so that they may catch into the carpetJ when the foot Z, is fiat thereon, by pressing downward and forward on the handle p. There is also a set of heel-points t, t, projecting downward from the rear edge of the foot Z, as shown in Figs. 6, and 7. These points are strong and firm, and operate, in connection with the toe-points s, s, as follows: In stretching the carpet over the fasteners, both the toe-points and heel-points are pressed into the carpet, the former near the edge thereof, the position being such as to bring the notch r, opposite to each fastener B, in succession. The stretcher is then pushed forward, both sets of points holding the carpet, thereby lessening their liability to tear or injure the same. When the edge of the carpet is brought to the wall or wash-board, the toe-points s, s, are lowered, while the heel-points serve as the fulcrum therefor, and to hold the carpet in place till its edge is hooked over the fastener. The carpet is, in like manner, in succession hooked over all the fasteners around the room. In taking up the carpet, the stretcher is placed in the same position, as in putting down, the notch Ar, being over each fastener in succession, so that the points s, s, may not interfere with the fasteners. Both sets of points are then inserted into the carpet and the heel-points t, t, are pushed forward so as to disengage the carpet from the fastener, while the toe-points s, s, are raised, by using the heel-points as a fulcrum, till the edge of the carpet is above the fastener. In that position, the edge of the carpet is drawn back by drawing on the heel-points, till it is entirely disengaged from the fastener. The whole act of disenu gaging the carpet, is done almost in a inoment, so that the carpet may be disengaged from all the fasteners, in a minut-enr two.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The stretcher C, when provided with the notch r, and the heel-points t, t, for the purpose herein set forth.

In witness that the above is a true specification of my improved apparatus for laying down and taking up carpets, I hereunto set my hand, this 10th day of May, 1859.

WILLIAM WHEELER.

Witnesses:

J. S. BROWN, R; F. Oscoon. 

